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Ulcerative colitis (UC): US-approved treatments and how Gulf families can access them

Creator: Reserve Meds
Published: 2026-10-17

A plain guide for families in the Gulf, checked against US FDA labels, Gulf drug registers and published medical research.

Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team on 17 October 2026.

Ulcerative colitis: the short answer

The US FDA has approved eight medicines on this page for ulcerative colitis, each for specific patients. Seven of them are on at least one Gulf register we checked, so ask your hospital about local supply first. Otherwise the hospital can request a named-patient import. Reserve Meds is a digital health company. We do not diagnose or prescribe.

US FDA-approved medicines on this page: Entyvio, Omvoh, Tremfya, Skyrizi, Stelara, Rinvoq, Zeposia and Velsipity.
Gulf registration (checked 17 October 2026): see each medicine below.
Legal route: Local supply where listed; otherwise a named-patient import request filed by the treating hospital.
Price: Quote on request.

What is ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term disease that causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the lining of the rectum and colon. It is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases, together with Crohn's disease. It usually starts between ages 15 and 30 and tends to run in families.^[1]

The most common symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea with blood or pus. Others include bowel urgency, anemia, tiredness, weight loss, loss of appetite and, in children, slow growth. Inflammation flares up repeatedly. Long-standing UC raises the risk of colon cancer.^{[1, 2]}

Doctors use blood and stool tests, colonoscopy and imaging. Several types of medicine help control UC, and in severe cases the colon may be removed. For moderately to severely active UC, US-approved options include biologic injections and infusions and oral medicines.^{[1, 3, 4, 5]}

Ulcerative colitis in the Gulf

In 2022, the Saudi Ministry of Health, the Saudi Gastroenterology Association and the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy published 78 consensus recommendations for diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in adults.^[6]

US FDA-approved medicines for ulcerative colitis

Each medicine below is approved in the US for a specific group of patients. The wording summarizes the current US label. Your specialist decides whether any of them is right for the patient.

Entyvio (vedolizumab)
FDA-approved for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It is given by intravenous infusion, with an injection under the skin for maintenance. It is also approved for Crohn's disease.^[3]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}
Country guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, India, Pakistan
Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz)
FDA-approved for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It starts with intravenous infusions, followed by injections under the skin.^[4]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}
Country guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman
Tremfya (guselkumab)
FDA-approved for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It is given by infusion or injection under the skin, as listed in the label.^[9]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}
Country guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, India, Pakistan
Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa)
FDA-approved for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It starts with intravenous infusions, followed by injections under the skin.^[10]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}
Country guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, India, Pakistan
Stelara (ustekinumab)
FDA-approved for adults and children 2 years and older with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It starts with an intravenous infusion, followed by injections under the skin.^[11]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}
Country guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, India, Pakistan
Rinvoq (upadacitinib)
FDA-approved for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more TNF blockers. It is a tablet.^[12]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}
Country guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, India, Pakistan
Zeposia (ozanimod hydrochloride)
FDA-approved for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It is a capsule taken by mouth. It is also approved for multiple sclerosis.^[13]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}
Country guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman
Velsipity (etrasimod)
FDA-approved for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It is a tablet taken once a day.^[5]
Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia: not found by brand name in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: not found by brand name in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register.^{[7, 8]}

How families in the Gulf can access these medicines

If the medicine is listed in your country. Ask your specialist and the hospital pharmacy about local supply first. A listing does not mean every hospital stocks the medicine, and another brand of the same medicine may also be registered, but local supply is usually the fastest route and you may not need us.

If it is not registered. The usual legal route is a named-patient request: the treating hospital, on your specialist's written request, asks the national regulator for permission to import the medicine for one patient, using the US FDA approval as the reference. In Saudi Arabia the SFDA Special Access Program guidance covers these requests; in Bahrain, NHRA Circular 41 of 2020 sets the procedure. Other Gulf countries have their own procedures, which the hospital pharmacy confirms.^{[14, 15]} Once approval is in place, Reserve Meds arranges supply through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner to the hospital pharmacy.

Who does what

Your treating specialist decides whether a medicine is right for the patient and writes the letter.
The hospital checks local supply, files any import request, and gives the treatment safely.
The national regulator decides whether to approve the import of a medicine that is not registered.
The manufacturer decides where its medicine can be supplied, especially for cell and gene therapies.
Reserve Meds helps organize records, coordinates US supply through our wholesale partner, shipping and updates to your family. We do not give medical advice.

Documents you will usually need

A letter from the treating specialist with the diagnosis, past treatments and why the medicine is being considered
Reports that confirm the diagnosis, such as laboratory, genetic, imaging or pathology results, translated into English where needed
Recent clinic notes and a list of current medicines
For a hospital import request: the prescription, the hospital's request form and the written consent of the patient or guardian
Proof of the US FDA approval and the US prescribing information (we can supply these)

We give you a written timeline estimate once we see the hospital file. The regulator, the treatment center and the manufacturer set their own timelines.

What treatment costs

Quote on request. Your total cost depends on the medicine, the dose, shipping, import steps and coordination. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.

How Reserve Meds helps

Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We help your doctor and hospital prepare the file, arrange US supply and temperature-controlled shipping once approval is in place, and keep your family updated. We coordinate access to FDA-approved medicines only. Investigational medicines are only available through a manufacturer's expanded-access program requested by the treating physician; we can explain that route, but we do not supply them.

Ask us about treatment for ulcerative colitis

Tell us the medicine, your country and a WhatsApp or phone number. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an FDA-approved treatment for ulcerative colitis?

Yes. The medicines on this page have US FDA approval for specific groups of patients: Entyvio, Omvoh, Tremfya, Skyrizi, Stelara, Rinvoq, Zeposia and Velsipity. The exact conditions are in each US label and are summarized above. Your specialist decides whether any of them fits.

Is Entyvio available in Saudi Arabia or the UAE?

Saudi Arabia: listed in the SFDA drugs list. Abu Dhabi: has an active code in the Abu Dhabi DoH drug code list. Checked 17 October 2026. UAE federal status, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not verified in a public register. A listing in Abu Dhabi does not show federal UAE status.

How can a family in the Gulf get Entyvio?

Ask the treating hospital about local supply first. If it is not available, the hospital can file a named-patient import request with the national regulator on your specialist's written request. Once approved, we arrange US supply to the hospital pharmacy.

How much does treatment cost?

Quote on request. Your total cost, including the medicine, shipping, import steps and coordination, is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.

What does moderately to severely active mean?

It describes UC with significant symptoms and inflammation despite standard treatment. All the US approvals on this page are for this level of disease activity.

Does UC increase cancer risk?

Yes. MedlinePlus Genetics notes that UC increases the risk of colon cancer, especially when the whole colon is inflamed or after 8 years or more. Regular colonoscopy checks are part of care.

Sources for the last two answers: ^{[3, 5]} ^[2]

Sources

Checked on 17 October 2026. Labels, registers and regulator rules change. Your hospital pharmacy confirms the current position before filing.

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.